The grid and autocomplete widgets really need no-data templates which display when the returned data is empty. The MVC controls were pretty good at this.
The dropdowns widget family got this feature: http://demos.telerik.com/kendo-ui/autocomplete/template
No data template for the grid is in the works, planned to be released with Q2 2015: http://kendoui-feedback.telerik.com/forums/127393-telerik-kendo-ui-feedback/suggestions/3046616-showing-no-data-text-inside-grid-when-there-s-no-d
Sure, I have done this but the widgets also have a lack of events to deal with this so I have had to edit source which does not make me a happy chap!